10 Things to Know Before Getting Braces

Crooked teeth can be a serious issue for any child, teenager or adult. No matter how old you are or how good your oral hygiene is, you can suffer from a misaligned bite or teeth. This can reflect not only your self-esteem and ability to have social interactions but can also create dental complications.

Tackling the Issue Early On

It’s always easier to fix crooked teeth at an early age so dentists in Albuquerque keep a close look on the development of kids’ first permanent teeth. If they notice any misalignment once the permanent teeth have begun to emerge, corrective measures can be taken.

While the mouth is still growing, the tissues are more flexible and adaptable so it’s much better for anyone to have their teeth fixed before they step into adolescence. Once that happens, teenagers tend to care more about their appearance and if they have imperfect, broken or stained teeth, they are likely to be mocked or judged which can lead to emotional and social challenges.

Besides that, most teenagers don’t like the idea of having braces and may refuse to wear them at all. Nowadays, modern braces aren’t as conspicuous as older products but are still visible enough to disturb self-conscious teens.

However, after they pass the drama period of puberty, they start regretting not listening to their parents and dentists and still wish for a beautiful smile. So, keep a close eye on your child’s dental condition and make sure to treat any signs of misalignment before it becomes a bigger issue.

A lot of information is involved in the decision of getting braces, so in this article, you can read the 10 most important things you should know before getting them for you or your child

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1. There is no age limit for getting braces

Dental braces are usually associated with teenagers so many people think they can’t get them after this point. However, any person at any age can get braces as long as they have good oral health and strong teeth and gums and the reason most adults stay away from this type of correction is just the stereotype that only kids should wear braces.

Most of the adults that get braces couldn’t afford them when they were kids but they’re determined to fix the problem that is holding back their confidence later on. Patients with weak gums and poor oral health may need to choose another treatment because braces put a lot of pressure on the gum tissue. That’s why you need strong, tough and flexible tissue that can take this pressure and allow the braces to fix the issue.

2. Braces fix more than just your teeth

It’s well known that braces give you perfectly straight teeth but that’s only one of the objectives of wearing them. Dental braces can help you achieve a lot more. This is why your orthodontist will ask you a lot of different questions and will examine your mouth for a lot of different issues.

By making this research, they will get an impression of your overall oral health and will find out anything that can cause a problem. You might be asked if you’ve experienced pain in the jawbone if you have trouble with bleeding gums, loose teeth and even if you’re able to stick your tongue out of the front of your teeth.

Whatever you get asked, even if that seems irrelevant to you, be patient and trust your orthodontist because they need all kinds of information in order to help you achieve the greatest smile.

3. Your bite is just as important as the straightness of your teeth

Besides determining whether your teeth are straight, your orthodontist will check to see if your bite is healthy, too. They will evaluate if your teeth meet properly if your jaw hurts, if you get TMJ headaches and if you have a problem speaking, chewing or breathing.

All of these symptoms can be caused by an issue with your bite so this is why that’s actually one of the most important things to evaluate. The bite is the way your top and bottom teeth meet when you open and close your mouth and affects your mouth functions.

When you open and close your two rows of teeth, they should meet but not grind too much and there shouldn’t be any big gaps along the line. So be aware that your orthodontist appointments can do more than just decide if you need braces or not. They can also find an unnoticed problem that can turn into a major issue if left untreated.

4. Bracket types are not the most important thing

Modern orthodontics offer the possibility of getting Invisalign or similarly invisible braces so most adults go for a consultation hoping they’ll be able to wear dental braces that are as inconspicuous as possible. This is easy to understand and probably anyone would get this option if possible.

However, not everyone is a suitable candidate for these kinds of braces so only a small percentage actually get them. It can be difficult for teenagers and adults to face the fact that they won’t be able to wear invisible braces and many people don’t listen to the recommendations of their dentist.

So try not to be stubborn and trust your dentist’s advice because, in the long term, you will achieve straight teeth and a beautiful healthy smile only if you accept the treatments they suggest are the best for you.

If you insist on an option that is fashionable but not suitable for you, you could end up switching to traditional brackets anyway and you will have to spend twice as much money and time as you were originally prescribed.

However, traditional braces don’t necessarily mean all metal. There are a lot of tooth-colored brackets now that are much less conspicuous and work just as well as metal ones. Try not to fixate on the fact how visible your brackets are.

Any good orthodontist will tell you that it’s not the brackets that make the difference but the technique of the orthodontist you’re visiting so better focus your energy on finding a good dentist whose approach you like and who makes you trust them. If you don’t like someone’s approach, you can always get a second opinion.

5. Make sure you go to an orthodontist and not a general dentist

Orthodontists know all the things that a regular dentist does but they are specially trained in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities as well. Because of this additional knowledge about how the teeth grow and move in the mouth, they’re the right people you should go to about any dental misalignment.

Sometimes, dentists offer to fit braces for a lot less money. While this is tempting, remember that a general dentist doesn’t have the same training as orthodontists and that can easily reflect on the final result of your smile.

It’s always risky to trust someone who has not specialized in orthodontics as you may end up having to fix wrongly fitted braces and having to pay even more for an orthodontist. So save your time and money by investing in a professional work.

6. Most consultations are free

Orthodontists usually don’t charge for the first consultation. This is great because you might want to get a second or a third opinion by another specialist if necessary. Feel free to go to as many consultations as you need, in order to find the right orthodontist for you who makes you feel comfortable and calm.

Wearing braces is a long-term commitment that takes a lot of appointments and frequent visits. So since you’ll be seeing your specialist a lot, you better feel relaxed around them so you don’t have a stressful experience every time you’re about to go for a check-up.

You can ask friends, family, and even your family dentist for referrals about orthodontists with a good approach to their patients.

7. The cost and treatment time of braces can vary

The downside of dental braces is that they’re not at all cheap. However, orthodontists usually offer different dental membership plans and payment schedules to help you with the expenses. It’s important to know is that costs can vary a lot because they depend on the type of braces, on the clinic, the location, the age of the patient and whether or not there are any complications.

Generally speaking, the average cost of orthodontic treatment will cost you somewhere between $3,000 and $6,000.

The time you’ll spend wearing braces depends on your individual case. The average treatment takes about 2 years but if you need to incorporate another procedure like getting some teeth extracted, for example, that can add a few more weeks. Two years sounds like a long time but it will go faster when you start seeing progress and when you get used to the feeling of having braces.

8. You will need to learn to brush your teeth carefully

Braces can be a real challenge when it comes to oral hygiene but it’s crucial to take care of your teeth thoroughly. When you have braces you will need to brush your teeth a lot more than you usually do. Your orthodontist will recommend doing so after every meal because food particles can easily get stuck between your brackets.

This may sound like a big pain to you at first but you’ll get used to it because you won’t like the feeling of having food stuck in your mouth which can cause tooth decay and bad breath.

You can use an orthodontic toothbrush which will make brushing your teeth easier. You should also floss at least twice a day and use a mouthwash that will help kill any bacteria left.

9. Having braces is not a painless experience

Wearing braces will hurt a little at first. You won’t feel pain right after getting them but a day or two later, the pressure applied to your teeth and gums will result in soreness. The tissue inside of your lips can also hurt because of the way brackets rub to them. That’s certainly not a pleasant feeling but it will last only for a couple of weeks.

After that, your mouth will get used to the pressure and the pain will get less and less. You will need to eat soft food and chew carefully in order not to cause more irritation. To soothe the pain and kill bacteria, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or another mouthwash a few times a day.

10. You will need to wear retainers after your braces come off

When you finally get your braces off, you’ll feel like it’s all over but you will still need to wear retainers for a while to make sure your teeth stay in the place you were trying to get all this time. Your orthodontist will make a mold of your mouth and make a set of retainers.

The type of retainers depends on your individual case but your orthodontist will make sure you get the ones your mouth need.

Most people need to wear them 24/7 for the first 6 months after their braces and after that switch to wearing them only at night. Your dentist will explain how long you should wear them but it’s recommended that you do so forever, at least from time to time. That will ensure your teeth don’t go back to their old crooked position.

In conclusion, don’t let any of the challenges about getting braces to stop you from taking action and choosing an orthodontic treatment. Getting and wearing braces can be difficult and somewhat scary, but when you back yourself up with all the information you need to know, you’re good to go.

Don’t forget to make your research and ask your dentist any questions you may have because that will make you a lot more prepared for this endeavor. Once you get the smile you’ve always dreamt of, you will look back at the time you were hesitating and will be happy you made this decision.